BERLIN (Hansard, 2 December 1958)

§ 47. Mr. A. Henderson
asked the Prime Minister whether the Soviet Prime Minister has now replied to his recent letter on the situation in Berlin.

§ 48. Mr. Emrys Hughes
asked the Prime Minister what recent communication he has sent to Mr. Khrushchev on the question of Berlin.

§ The Prime Minister
On 22nd November I addressed a personal message to Mr. Khrushchev. In it I made it clear that Her Majesty's Government intend to uphold their rights over Berlin and look to the Soviet Government to fulfil its obligations. I have not received any reply to this message.

§ Mr. Henderson
May I ask the Prime Minister whether he will consider the statement made in the Note, which I think was dated 27th November, received from the Soviet Government, in which it was stated that the Soviet Government were prepared to open negotiations on the future of Berlin; and will he say whether he considers it a step forward in the direction of holding a conference on the wider German problem?

§ The Prime Minister
That is rather a large issue. The Note was extremely long and requires a great deal of careful study. I understand that it is to be debated, with other similar matters, the day after tomorrow, and I would prefer to await any further elaborate statement until that debate.

§ Mr. Hughes
Will the Prime Minister tell us whether it is the position that he is now appealing to Mr. Khrushchev to keep Russian soldiers in Berlin? Is he aware that some of us who saw Russian tanks suppressing the rising on 17th June know how bitterly it was resented by the Berlin population and by the whole of the world? Can it be that the right hon. Gentleman is now asking the Russians to keep their tanks in Berlin?

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir. I think the whole House knows that we do not think that these obligations of the four Powers should be unilaterally renounced or changed.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
Is the Prime Minister aware that, while it appears to us that Mr. Khrushchev's proposals for the withdrawal of both Allied and Soviet forces from Berlin could not be acceptable in the present situation there, it is also highly desirable that Her Majesty's Government should put forward in these discussions with our Allies positive proposals for the reunification of Germany and the reduction of tension in Europe?

§ The Prime Minister
That has been going on a long time. I saw what the right hon. Gentleman said on the wireless, and, if I may say so without impertinence, I thought it was very sensible. I only hope that it was acceptable to his party as a whole.

§ Mr. Shinwell
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the new situation which has emerged about the Berlin affair, we can be assured that the Prime Minister will not close his mind to the possibility of negotiations, if such negotiations are available to him?

§ The Prime Minister
Of course not, but I think the first thing to do is to take counsel with our friends and Allies, and that we propose to do.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
Is the Prime Minister aware that, though the West have not put forward any positive proposals for the solution of the German problem for a very long time now, these proposals have been put forward by Her Majesty's Opposition officially, and it is the view, not only of the Opposition, but of many people in Europe, that they should be taken much more seriously by Her Majesty's Government?

§ The Prime Minister
All this is to be debated on Thursday, when, no doubt, the right hon. Gentleman will put forward his views.

§ Mr. Hughes
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I hope to call attention to this matter in the debate on Thursday.